Committee Names James H. Weiss to Head Vineyard Public School Sytem

In a sharply split vote that came after nearly two hours of polling
among board members, the All-Island School Committee last night selected
James H. Weiss as the next superintendent of Vineyard public schools.

Mr. Weiss, who has been superintendent of the Sanborn regional
school system in New Hampshire for the last seven years, is expected to
take over leadership of the Island's six public schools on July 1,
replacing Vineyard interim superintendent G. Paul Dulac.

Both parties must still agree on terms of a contract, including
salary.

School committee members last night initially deadlocked on two of
the front runners, Mr. Weiss and Wayne R. Ogden, assistant
superintendent of schools in Wayland. A third finalist, former Brookline
superintendent Richard Silverman, received only one first-place vote and
was quickly eliminated from the running.

In the end, the decision came down to experience. Mr. Weiss has
served as superintendent of of two school systems in New Hampshire over
the last 15 years and was a teacher and principal in Connecticut for
more than 20 years.

Mr. Weiss was candid with Vineyard school committee members during
interviews, telling them he was looking for one more stint as a
superintendent before winding down his career.

Some school committee members argued that such experience,
particularly in a school system with many districts like the Vineyard,
was vital.

"I worry about someone being the head of the whole operation
for the first time here, in what is a very hot seat," said Kathy
Logue of West Tisbury. "We are not an easy community."

Mr. Ogden has never held a superintendent's position, but some
school board members saw that as an advantage.

"Other candidates who have been a superintendent elsewhere
will bring their style here, but Mr. Ogden would be creating his style
to fit the mold of our Island," Mr. Manter said. "Eventually
every superintendent needs to have their first opportunity somewhere. I
think Wayne should have his first day here."

Once Mr. Silverman was removed from consideration last night, the
school committee was evenly split.

Some school board members worried that Mr. Weiss lacked rapport with
students. A group of high school students who met with all three
finalists prior to their interviews ranked Mr. Weiss at the bottom of
their list.

But school committee members who visited the New Hampshire schools
and watched Mr. Weiss in action were impressed by his interactions with
students.

Ultimately, in the sixth time around the table and the third
official round of voting, Mrs. Parker and Mr. Manter cast their votes
for Mr. Weiss ˜ giving him an 8-4 advantage, which was more than
the necessary simple majority. Both Mrs. Parker and Mr. Manter said they
decided to switch their votes because they felt it was in the best
interests of the school system.

Mr. Weiss, who has a wife and adult son, said he had applied for
only one other superintendent position this year - in a district
on the Connecticut shoreline - but that he will now withdraw his
name from consideration there.

Mr. Weiss told school board members that he would like to visit the
Island this spring to work with Mr. Dulac and other school
administrators in an effort to make the transition as smooth as
possible.

"I'm just really excited and really pleased that this
was the way the board decided to go," Mr. Weiss said when reached
at his Stratham, N.H. home last night. "I'm looking forward
to getting started and beginning the transition."

Since former Vineyard schools superintendent Kriner Cash left his
post on short notice last fall, Edgartown School principal Edward Jerome
and then Mr. Dulac served as interim leaders while the school board
focused on finding a new permanent superintendent.

School committee members last night described the five-month search
process as long and arduous, though ultimately rewarding. Almost every
one of the 12 school board members who participated in the process said
they would have been happy with any of the three finalists.

Ironically, Mr. Silverman - who had been a finalist in at
least seven school systems across the state - was unanimously
selected for the superintendency in Randolph last night, and accepted
the offer.

Mr. Ogden is still one of four finalists for the superintendency on
Nantucket. He will interview for that position later this month.

Back here on the Vineyard, Mr. Weiss said last night that he hopes
to win over the four school board members who voted in opposition to his
appointment.

"I'm sure it was a tough decision because they had three
very good candidates," he said. "They were looking for a
good fit, and I hope I can show to those people who voted against me
that I'm a good fit. I'll work hard to do that."

The Island school board is expected to finalize a contract with Mr.
Weiss soon. The salary range of the position was advertised at $120,000
to $130,000. Mr. Weiss‚ salary in New Hampshire last year was
$98,707.